Diaper changing table



Aug. 29, 1969 v v. L. TRIPLETT 3,462,773

DIAPER CHANG TABLE Filed oct. 31, 1967 l v 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Ves to L. Trip/eff ATTORNEY Aug- 29, 1969 v. L. TRIPLETT DIAPER CHANGINGTABLE '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1967 FIG. 6.

FIG. 8.

INVENTOR Vesta L. Trip/ett ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,462,773DIAPER CHANGING TABLE 'Vesta L. Triplett, Bonanza, Oreg. (Rte. 2, Box2710, Jibbel, Vacaville, Calif. 95688) Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No.679,301 Int. Cl. A47d 5 00 U.S. Cl. 5-111 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THEDISCLOSURE A exible, generally horizontal, baby-supporting top issecured at its longitudinal edges to parallel supporting bars formed ofhinged sections to facilitate folding and normally opened so that thesections are in alignment with each other, such sections being supportedat their ends by legs so connected to each other and to the setcionreferred to as to facilitate the complete folding of the table forstorage in a tote bag or the like. The folded device takes up a minimumof space and the device is intended for use particularly Whiletravelling.

Background of the invention The device is intended to supply the needfor travelling mothers to provide a comfortable support for a baby whilethe diaper changing operation is performed. To facilitate the carryingof the device, it is necessary that it take up minimum space whentravelling.

Summary of the invention The invention comprises a canvas or similarflexible table top having longitudinal edges wrapped around and securedto sectional side bars each of which normally has its parts formed ofaligned pivotally connected sections. Each side bar has a central shortsection connected to the main sections to form a double hinge so thatthese sections may be folded back on each other. The remote ends of thesectional bars are supported on legs formed of telescoping sections tominimize the length thereof when the table is to be folded. Pivotedcorner braces are connected between each side bar section and the upperouter telescoping member of each leg so that these legs may not only betelescoped to shorten them in length, but may be folded up in positionsadjacent their associated side bar sections. One or more end brace maybe connected between the legs at each end of the table to assist insupporting such legs in vertical position. These braces are each formedof hinged sections to be foldable and each brace is provided at one endwith a hook adapted to be detachably connected to a leg of the table.The opposite end of each brace is swiveled to provide for the swingingof the `braces to positions parallel to the sections of the side barswhen the table is folded.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of thetable with the parts in operative positions;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one end portion ofthe table and one of the legs;

lFIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the same;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed elevation of portions of two of the legs at oneend of the table showing a brace connected therebetween, parts beingbroken away;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the center portion of one of theside bars and a portion of the table OP;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the same, parts being shown in section;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the table with the parts partiallyfolded; and

FIGURE 8 is a similar View showing the table substantially folded.

Referring to FIGURE l, the numeral 10 designates a table top formed ofcanvas or other suitable soft fabric Orsheetmg to support a baby thereonwhile its diapers are being changed. The table top is rectangular andhas longitudinal edge portions extending around normally parallel sidebar or frame members, each of which is indicated by the numeral 12, thematerial of the table top after extending around the side bars beingstitched to the body of the table top as at 14. Each side bar 12 isformed of a pair of main sections 16 and 18 connected together by adouble hinge member 20. Such member is provided with ends 22 lying inslots 24 formed in the adjacent ends of the bar sections 16 and 18 andconnected, respectively, thereto fby hinge pins 26. Opposite ends of themember 20 have shoulders 28 engageable against the end walls of theslots 24 to limit downward movement of the member 20 to a position inalignment with the sections 16 and 18, as shown in FIGURE 6. Thematerial of the table top 10 is cut away as at 30 adjacent the hingeconnection of the sidebar sections to each other.

Each side bar section is provided with depending plates 32 (FIGURES 2and 3) attached thereto as at 34 and receiving therebetween the upperend of a leg 36 pivoted to the plate 32 as at 38. Each leg 36 is formedof oupper and lower telescoping sections 40 and 42, the section 40 beingof larger diameter than the section 42 and slideably receiving thelatter.

A spring clip 44 is welded to each leg section 40 as at 46 and carries apin 48 projecting through an opening 5) in the associated leg section 40and having its inner end selectively receivable in openings 52 in theassociated leg section 42. Springing the lower end of the clip 44outwardly releases the pin 48 from one of the openings S2 when acomplete telescoping of the leg sections is desired or for theadjustment of the height of the table by engagement of the pin 48 in aselected opening 52.

Brackets 54 and 56 are fixed, respectively, to each of the side barsections at a point spaced from the end thereof and to the associatedupper leg section 4l). The brackets 54 and 56 are pivotally connected asat 58 and 60 to the remote ends of pivoted link elements 62, theseelements being pivotally connected to each other as at 64. A detent 66is pressed in one of the link elements and is engageable with a recessin the other link element to normally hold the link elements inalignment with each other when the table is in use. This means ofholding the link sections in alignment with each other forms no part ofthe present invention and maybe of any desired type.

The legs at each end of the table may be connected to each other by oneor more braces 68. Each brace 68 is formed of a pair of sections 70 and72, and the right-hand end of the latter, as shown in FIGURE 4, hasswivel connection as at 74 a bracket 76 carried by the associated legsection 40. The remote end of the brace section 70 is provided with ahook 78 engageable with an eye 80 carried by the adjacent leg section40. These brace sections are connected by a double hinge element 82(FIGURE 4) similar to the member 2l) previously described.

The parts normally occupy the positions shown in FIG- URE 1 when thetable is to be used. When it is desired to fold the table, for examplewhen traveling, the brace hooks 78 will be disconnected and the bracesfolded so that one section lies adjacent the other section whereupon thebraces are bodily swung to positions parallel to the side bars 12. Thebrace links 62 are then buckled as in FIGURE 7, and with the legsections 40 and 42 telescoped, such leg sections are swung upwardly topartially folded positions as shown in FIGURE 7. The side bar sectionsare then buckled downwardly, that is, the double hinge member 20 ismoved upwardly as in FIGURE 7.

With the legs swung to positions parallel to the side bar members, thelatter may be swung toward each other to parallel positions as shown inFIGURE 8. The table top being flexible and the folded side barsdisconnected from each other except for the table top, the side bars maybe moved toward each other as suggested in FIG- URE 8 for the compactfolding of the table. Obviously, the side bars may be moved closertogether than shown in FIGURE 8, whereupon the table will be reduced tominimum size. The metal parts may be formed of aluminum size. The metalparts may be formed of aluminum to minimize weight, and when folded, thetable occupies a space approximately 3 x 3" x 12 to facilitate its beingplaced in a diaper bag or other carrier. Thus the device occupies solittle space that it may be conveniently carried while travelling, andyby reversing the folding procedures described above, the table may beopened up for use in a matter of seconds.

It will be noted that the table top is not supported transverselythereof by any cross members in the horizontal plane of the side bars.The legs are ixed at the proper distance apart by the braces 68,arranged below the plane of the side bars. When a baby is laid on thetable top therefore, this member curves from side to side but not fromend to end, thus making it more comfortable for the baby and eliminatingany chance that the babys head, for example, may strike an end bar whenthe baby is being placed on the table. Also, the solely transversecurving of the table top makes the device practicable when travellingfor use as a crib.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a flexible top, spaced parallel side bars to whichlongitudinal edges of said top are connected, each side bar being formedof a pair of normally aligned sections and a double hinge memberconnected therebetween for the folding of such sections, a leg at eachcorner of the table, said legs being pivotally connected to the remoteends of the side bars to be folded upwardly and inwardly to positionsadjacent and parallel to said side bar sections when the latter arefolded with respect to each other, each leg being formed of telescopingsections the upper of which is of larger diameter than the lowersections, means comprising a spring clip welded at one end to each upperleg section and provided with an inwardly extending pin spaced from saidend of said clip, each upper leg section having an opening through whichsaid pin extends and each inner leg section being provided with aplurality of vertically spaced openings to selectively receive said pinfor securing the telescoping sections of each leg in adjusted positionswith respect to each other whereby said leg sections are adjustable toadjust the height of said table top and may be completely telescopedwith the table folded, link members pivotally connected to each otherand pivotally connected at their remote ends to each upper leg sectionand to the associated side bar section at a point spaced from theextremity thereof, a pair of braces connected between the legs at eachend of said table, each brace comprising pivotally connected sectionsswivelly connected at one end to the upper telescoping leg section ateach end of the table, and hook and eye means for detachably connectingthe other end of each brace to the upper telescoping leg section at thesame end of the table, said braces being spaced below the horizontalplane of said side bars, the hinges between said side bar sections andbetween said brace sections being provided with shoulders engaging suchsections to limit downward movement of the adjacent ends of suchsections into horizontal alignment with each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,049 7/1919 Syrett S-lll2,924,414 2/1960 Tesdal 24S-188.5 X 3,044,080 7/ 1962 Hartwig 5-1113,045,257 7/1962 Knapp 5-111 3,093,837 6/1963 Clayton 5-111 JAMES T.MCCALL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

